McDermott + Bull has successfully placed Molly Barela as Vice President of Marketing at Smart Parke. Molly will be responsible for designing and executing the company’s marketing strategy during a period of rapid growth, overseeing brand development, demand generation, digital performance, and local market activation across Smart Parke’s expanding portfolio of premium pet care facilities. She will partner closely with executive leadership to refine marketing strategy, evaluate channel performance, and build scalable programs that drive customer acquisition and brand awareness.
Molly brings more than 17 years of experience developing brand strategy and integrated go-to-market campaigns for high-growth consumer brands. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Marketing at Sugared + Bronzed, where she led performance marketing, e-commerce, influencer partnerships, PR, and retention strategies. During her tenure, the brand scaled from 16 to 44 locations while achieving significant new client growth. Prior to that, Molly served as Group Brand Director at Mother LA and MIRIMAR Creative. She previously held leadership roles at Haymaker, Enso, and 72andSunny, where she led award-winning campaigns for global brands including Google, Starbucks, and Target. Molly earned a bachelor’s degree in business and communications from the University of Puget Sound.
Smart Parke is a premium pet boarding, daycare, and training company dedicated to creating an experience that feels like an extension of a pet’s home. Founded in 2019, the company provides spacious suites, supervised indoor and outdoor play areas, and enrichment-focused care, delivering transparency and peace of mind to pet owners across its growing network of California locations.
This executive search was completed by McDermott + Bull Managing Partner + Co-Founder Chris Bull, Managing Director Michael Sesker, and Senior Consultant Christiana Chan.